plunkett



2 sheets-sheet 1 P. PLUNKETT POURING sPoUT Filed-uly 5, 1934 Oct. 27, 1936.

ATTORNEYS oct. 27, 1936.

RPLUNKETT POURING SPOUT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1934 INVENTOR B YI/ 17a/zia?? @n K 9@ ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 27, 1936 POURING SPOUT Connecticut Appuatitn July 5, 1934, serial No. 735,749

17 Claims.

This. invention relates generally to spouts and more particularly to. that type comprising a widemouthed generally conical shaped body portion terminating in a discharge tube and particularly adapted for pouring liquids from a container.

The invention relates further to an improved pouring spout or funnel for use in draining pourable contents from sealed containers, which, for various reasons, are intended to be non-reiillable. Accordingly, the improved spout contemplated by the invention includes, among other features, means for cutting or piercing the container to provide a discharge opening' for the contents of the container.

In addition to the means for producing a discharge opening in the container with which it may be used, the improved spout or funnelprovides means for clamping it to the container for ease in handling, While, at the same time, cutting the neck or body portion of the container sufficiently to destroy its utility for further use.

More particularly, the invention relates to an impro-ved draining spout for use with sealed bottles or containers made of moulded pulp, or like material., having a body portion of generally polygonal or circular cross-section and a neck portion in the shape of a truncated cone. Such bottles or containers are used for dispensing pourable productsfsuch as for example, liquids like motor oil, in individual units. Their use is intended, among other things, to assure the ultimate consumer that he obtains the original and not an adulterated or substituted product. In

L accordance with the purposes contemplated by the invention, this very desirable result is accomplished as will be more fully explained and described hereinafter.

In accordance with the invention, the improved pouring spout or funnel comprises a widemouth generally conical shaped body portion terminating at its apex in a tubular discharge nozzle. A piercing or cutting member is provided, either integral or separate, with the funnel for producing a discharge opening in the container with which the funnel is to be used. In addition to the piercing or cutting' member just mentioned, other cutting or piercing members are provided and fixed to the inside wall of the body portion of thefunnel to serve multifold purposes which include the clamping of the funnel to the container and, at the same time, cutting the neck or body portion of the container, all of which is hereinafter described more in detail.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may becarried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. l is a vertical cross-section of one form of the device showing the neck of a moulded pulp bottle inserted therein;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section at right angles with Fig. l and showing an elevation of the cap cutting blades and auxiliary cylinder;

Fig. 3 is a View on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a View on line lll-t of Fig. '2;

Fig. 5 is a View in cross-section of a modified form of the device;

"Fig 6 is a View on line i--fa of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view in part in crosswsection at right angles to Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a view in part in elevation of the modified form shown in Figs. 5 and 7 Fig. 9 is a partial View in elevation and partly in cross-section of a further modification;

Fig. 10 is a view on line llll of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a View of the device in elevation inserted in a bottle after the bottle'has been emptied.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will be identified by specic names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, one form of the device comprises a wide mouth body portion Il] in the shape of a truncated cone and having at its smaller end a ribbed or crimped annular portion ll. The ribs l2 facilitate turning the device on the neck I3 of the bottle lll. The body portion lll terminates in a nozzle portion I5 which is generally tapered. The end I6 of the pouring nozzle l5 is of such size as to enter into the charging port of the crank case of an automobile and likewise small enough to enter into the mouth of the bottle after it has been emptied, the reasons Vfor which are explained hereinafter.

A removable auxiliary tube or cylinder I1 having cap cutting knives I8 is provided and inserted in the nozzle I5 as shown in Figs. l and 2. An annular shoulder I9 xed to the tube l'I near one end provides a guide for centering the tube and also serves as a seat for a soft gasket 2E) against which the rim 2l of the mouth of the bottle I4 becomes engaged when the neck of the bottle with a seal cap 46 is inserted into the wide mouth conical body portion I of the device. The end of the tube I'I is shaped as shown in Figs. l and 2 to form cap cutting blades I8 which are generally cylindrical, taking the form of the tube Ill and having curvilinear sharpened edges 22 and terminating in sharp piercing points 23. Stop flanges 24 are fixed in the inside of the tube Il and serve to retain the disc 25 which is cut out of the cap covering the mouth of the bottle when the neck is inserted into the funnel and slightly turned (see Figs. l and 2). The tube I'I may be crimped, if desired, to insure that it stays fixed to the nozzle and turns with it.

Fixed to the inner wall of the conical body portion I0 of the funnel are a plurality of neck cutting blades 26. These blades 26 are pitched and are of generally partial crescent shape, the toes 2l of which blades being positioned to engage the neck of the bottle before the heels 28 of the blades engage it when the neck of the bottle is inserted into the funnel.

The blades 26 are so positioned and pitched that when the funnel is placed over the neck of the sealed bottle i4 and then given a turning motion clockwise with slight pressure toward the bottle multifold functions are performed. The piercing points 23 of the cap cutting knives I8 engage the heavy stii paper sealing cap 40 of the pulp bottle I4 which, for purposes of explanation, may be assumed to be one which contains motor oil. The toes 27 of the neck cutting blades are positioned to simultaneously engage the neck of the bottle with the piercing action of the points 23. Upon turning clockwise and exerting slight pressure upon the funnel the blades cut a pitched groove 29 into the neck of the bottle on the same principle that a thread cutting die cuts a pitched thread. Each blade upon continued turning of the funnel makes a pitched groove which forms a guide into which a blade 26 continues to advance while, at the same time, cutting a pitched slot entirely through the neck of the bottle. Simultaneously, the rim at the mouth of the bottle is forced against the soft gasket 20. When the rim thus engages the gasket on the shoulder I9 the cap cutting knives have cut out of the cap a disc 25 which is forced out of position by the extensions 3l) on the `retaining lange 24, thus providing a discharge opening in the bottle for the free flow of oil therefrom.

It will be apparent that after the operation just described, the funnel is clamped on to the bottle forming what might be termed, for purposes of description, a unitary structure which may be handled with extraordinary ease, with one hand, if desired. This obviously facilitates handling of the unit by the person who may desire to charge the contents of the bottle into the crank case of an automobile inasmuch as he may have a free hand for opening and closing the hood and also for opening and closing the charging port of the crank case. As hereinbefore explained, the end i6 of the pouring nozzle I is adapted to enter the crank case charging port.

After the oil has quickly drained into the crank case, the unitary structure comprising the bottle and funnel clamped thereto .is removed. Then the funnel may be removed from the empty bottle by reversing the operation heretofore described. If there is any residual drip left in the funnel, the nozzle may be inserted into the empty bottle as shown in Fig. 11 which will catch the dribble, if any, and thus avoid undesirable muss in the surrounding vicinity. The funnel after removal is, of course, ready for subsequent similar and repeated use.

Lastly, but by no means of least importance, is the fact that the empty bottle has lost its utility for any further practical use as an oil container as there has been suflicient mutilation to render it substantially destroyed. As described at the outset, such destruction assures the oil consumer of obtaining the oil of the original producer and not an adulterated or substituted product, since the oil may be charged into the container and sealed at the lling plant controlled by the said producer.

A modified form of device performing the same function as described in the foregoing is shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8. The cap cutting member, however, is of generally conical shape and preferably, although not necessarily, fixed in the funnel as shown. The conical cap cutting member 3l, more accurately described as a cap piercing cone, may be stamped out of one piece and is provided with a sharp piercing point 32 by cutting out of the cone an elliptical opening 33, the edges Sil of which are preferably sharpened. This opening 33, in addition to a plurality of slots 35, provides ports for passage of the oil from the bottle through the cone into the pouring nozzle I5. Additional notches 36 are provided to insure efficient drainage through the cone. If desired, a soft annular gasket (not shown) may be inserted at 3l' against which the rim of the cap may engage, although ordinarily sufcient seal is provided by the rim of the cap itself against the cone and pouring nozzle.

A further modification is provided in neck cutting blades 38. In this case the blades are stamped out of the wall of the body portion and are not separate blades fixed to the inside wall. The shape and functions, however, are similar.

Although the toe and heel positions of the blad-es 38 are reversed from those previously mentioned, generally speaking, however, the operations and results of the funnel are the same as hereinbefore described except that instead of having a disc cut out of the cap 4B the cap is merely pierced and there is no separable part of the bottle cap to be handled as would naturally result from the use of the device shown in Fig. 1

A still further modification or neck cutting members is shown in Figs. 9 and l0 which comprise sharp pointed projections 55. These projections which may take the form of round pointed pins or flat vertical sharp projections have likewise proved eflicacious.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the device may be made of any desirable material, such as for example, copper or steel plate of proper gauge, or, a part of the device may be made from such material as phenol condensation products. It is apparent, however, that the cutting edges must be of such material as to be suiiiciently hard and durable to obtain the desired cutting action.

The funnel is of cheap construction and may be made of few parts. It has particular utility in that it not only is designed to form an eiicient and easily `handled pouring spout but is particularlycommended to vaccomplish a result which the oil industry, as well as others, has been clamoring to obtain, namely,prevention of a vice which has been aptly termed bootlegging.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexedclaims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A container pouring spout comprising a conical shaped body portion having container side wall cutting means Iixed thereto, a discharge nozzle fixed to said body portion, and means including a curved cutting edge disposed centrally of said spout for forming a discharge opening in said container.

2. A container pouring funnel comprising in combination a discharge nozzle, cutting means within said funnel for forming a discharge opening in a container, a conical shaped body portion connected to said nozzle, side wall cutting means rigidly xed to said body portion and coactive with said rst mentioned cutting means.

3. A bottle pouring funnel comprising in combination a cap cutting member within said funnel and neck cutting members iixed within said funnel adapted to pierce the neck of said bottle simultaneously with the operation of the cap cutting member.

4. A container pouring spout comprising a wide mouth body portion, a nozzle extending from said body portion, a piercing cone xed in said spout for forming a discharge opening in said container, said cone having openings for the passage therethrough of the contents of the container, and a cutting edge constituted by the provision of an opening adjacent the apex of the cone.

5. A pouring spout comprising a nozzle, a conical shaped body portion xed to said nozzle, an annular portion connecting said nozzle and body portion, a cutting member within said spout having at least one sharp piercing point and cutting projections xed tosaid body portion.

6. A pouring spout for moulded pulp bottles having a sealing cap comprising a wide mouth body portion, a tapered pouring nozzle extending from said body portion and having therein movable knives for cutting said sealing cap, projections xed to said body portion for clamping said bottle Within said Wide mouth body portion, said spout forming with said bottle, when clamped in place, a unitary structure.

'7. A pouring funnel for use with a moulded pulp container which comprises a tapered nozzle, a conical shaped body portion xed to said nozzle, cap cutting means within said body portion for forming a discharge opening in said bottle, and pitched blades iixed Within said body portion, for piercing the Walls of said container.

8. A funnel for draining the contents of a capped moulded pulp bottle comprising a nozzle connected to the smaller end of a conical shaped body portion, said body portion being adapted to fit snugly over the neck of said bottie, a cap cutting device within said funnel, pitched blades. fixed within said body portion and positioned to perform a double function, namely, to cut a groove through the wall of the neck of said bottle While the cap of said bottle is being cut by said cap cutting device and simultaneously clamping said funnel to said bottle.

9. A bottle draining funnel comprising a body portion shaped to fit the neck of said bottle, a discharge nozzle connected to said body portion, Aa cap piercing device Within said funnel and neck piercing projections fixed to said body portion, said projections performing the double purpose of clamping said funnel to said bottle to form a unitary pouring structure and of piercing the neck of said bottle to render it nonrellable.

10. A funnel for dispensing oil from a sealed moulded pulp bottle which comprises a relatively long tapered tubular nozzle, a wide mouth body portion shaped to iit the neck of said bottle and connected to said nozzle at its smaller end by a ribbed annular portion, a slotted cap piercing cone the apex of which terminates in a sharp point, the base of said cone being fixed Within said nozzle and its apex extending into said body portion, projections xed t0 the inner Wall of said body portion and adapted to serve the multifold purpose of piercing the neck of the bottle to render said bottle non-refillable and of clamping the funnel to said bottle.

11. A pouring spout for a container comprising a body portion shaped to fit over the end of the container, a spout portion, a cutting edge positioned to form a discharge opening in an end wall of the container and Wall cutting edges positioned on said body portion to cut into a side wall of the container when the body is forced into the end of the container and twisted thereabout. Y

i2. In a combined opener and spout for a bottle and cap of easily punctured material, a spout, an enlarged funnel on the end of said spout forming a seat for the cap of the bottle at the end of the piercing operation, a Washer on said seat, a V-shaped cutter knife extending upwardly from the upper end of said spout into said funnel, a spreader member arranged at right angles to said cutter knife, and a mutilating cutter on said funnel adapted to slit the neck of said bottle during the cap piercing operation to render the bottle uniit for re-use.

13. In a combined opener and spout for a bottle and cap of easily punctured material, a spout, an enlarged funnel on the end of said spout forming a seat for the cap of the bottle at the end of the piercing operation, a V-shaped cutter knife extending upwardly from the upper end of said spout into said funnel, a spreader member arranged at right-angles to said cutter knife, and a mutilating cutter on said funnel adapted to slit the neck of said bottle during the cap piercing operation to render the bottle unt for re-use.

14. In a combined opener and spout for a bottle and cap of easily punctured material, a spout, an enlarged funnel on the end of said spout forming a seat for the cap of the bottle at the end of the piercing operation, a V-shaped cutter knife extending upwardly from the upper end of said spout into said funnel, a spreader member associated with said cutter knife, and a mutilating cutter on said funnel adapted to slit the neck of said bottle during the cap piercing operation to render the bottle unfit for re-use.

15. In a combined opener and spout for a bottle and cap of easily punctured material, a

spout, an enlarged funnel on the end of saidV spout forming a seat for the cap of the bottle at the end of the piercing operation, a V-shaped cutter knife extending upwardly from the upper end of said spout into said funnel, a spreader member associated with said cutter knife, and a plurality of mutilating cutters on said funnel adapted to slit the neck of said bottle during the cap piercing operation to render the bottle unfit for re-use.

16. In a combined opener and spout for a botile and cap of easily punctured material, a spout, an enlarged funnel on the end of said spout forming a seat for the cap of the bottle at the end of the piercing operation, a V-shaped cutter knife extending upwardly from the upper end of said spout into said funnel, a spreader member arranged at right-angles to said cutter knife, and means in the interior of said funnel for mutilating the material of said bottle during the cap piercing operation to render the bottle unfit for re-use.

17. In a combined opener and spout for a bottle and cap of easily punctured material, a spout, an enlarged funnel on the end of said spout forming a seat for the cap of the bottle at the end of the piercing operation, a V-shaped cutter knife at the center of said funnel extending upwardly from the upper end of said spout into said funnel, and a spreader member associated with said cutter knife.

PAUL PLUNKE'I'I. 

